Neonatal hypoglycemia

ABSTRACT

Neonatal hypoglycemia was studied in 2876 neonates born in Military Hospital Rawalpindi, over a period of 6 months. On selective screening [plasma glucose concentratioin less then 2.6 mmol/l] was detected in 100 cases having an incidence of 3.5% in total births. In preterm and small for date babies, it was 8% and 6% respectively reflecting an increased risk of having hypoglycemia in these babies. 43 cases of hypoglycemia were symptomatic while 57 cases were asymptomatic. Asymptomatic hypoglycemia had occurred at a relatively earlier postnatal age as compared to symptomatic hypoglycemia. More than 70% of these 100 hypoglycemic babies had one or more risk factors. 30% were small for dates babies and 23% were preterm babies. 5% of hypoglycemic cases were large for gestational age babies, 10% were cases of respiratory distress and 5% were infants of diabetic mothers. Most frequent symptom in symptomatic hypoglycemia was lethargy [53.5%], jitteriness in 29%, cyanosis 19%, hypotonia 16% and seizures 9%, pallor and tachypnoea were noted 7% in each, while poor feeding. high pitched cry and apnoea was 2% of each. Seizures due to hypoglycemia had occurred at blood glucose level of less than 1.5 mmol/l. We did not find any case of persistent hypoglycemia in these 100 cases